I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set it free.
The people I admire most have an unshakable optimism and innate ability to see the big picture even if it resides off on some far horizon. If you take a moment to reflect on Michelangelo’s words with the same sense of wonder as if you were gazing at any of his masterworks in person, there are many points of resonance that connect to the artistry of teaching and leadership.
First, his most famous pieces like the frescoes on the Sistine Chapel took years of patience, trial and error, endless color combinations, and a clarity of vision. Perhaps passion cannot be measured quantifiably but if we elevate it to the level of artistry it can absolutely be seen in the everyday work we do.
Second, once Michelangelo’s mission was set and the journey started, there would be no wavering. The all-encompassing attention to his “”œuvre d’art” was rife with omnipresent goals and systems. Some, as small as a pencil sketch, and others varying in size and scope. Every component perpetually interconnected to form the final work yet always open to new interpretations and directions.
Third, there existed an unquestionable tenacity in the pursuit of accomplishing something much larger than himself. He articulated this beautifully in his oft-quoted ” “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.”
The ability to see the angel in the marble requires much of the artist, educator, and leader. We owe it to those we lead, teach, mentor, collaborate with to cultivate the eye and heart of a MichelAngelo. Knowing there is something great within each of us energizes us to see beyond the marble and granite and reveal the promise and artistry that lies within others.